Education

What is Supervised Pastoral Education?

Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE) includes CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) and PCE (Pastoral Counseling Education) Both are adult education, action/reflection models accredited by the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (C.A.S.C.). CASC is committed to the professional education, certification, and support of those endorsed by their faith communities in the ministry of spiritual care, counseling, and education. A unit of CPE consists of a minimum of 400 hours of training divided equally between clinical care and small group seminar education. After a minimum of two basic units of CPE, a student may meet a committee to move to advanced standing based on a discernment process of readiness together with the SPE supervisor. A unit of PCE consists of 120 hours of clinical work and 280 hours of small group seminar education.  The residency program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) offers a combination of three CPE units and one PCE unit.  Students have the opportunity to gain experience within the environment of the Charlton Campus, the West 5th Campus, and in outpatient clinics.

The Content of Supervision

1. Group Supervision
Each participant will present his/her peers and supervisor written reports of pastoral/spiritual care experiences for discussion, analysis and theological/spiritual reflection.

2. Interpersonal Relationships Group
This group experience focuses on the process of group dynamics and developing greater awareness of one’s own interpersonal style of relating.

3. Theological/Spiritual Reflection
This is a reflection process to examine one’s theological and spiritual values and beliefs as they meet concrete life experiences and the provision of spiritual care to others.

4. Spiritual Reflection Service
An opportunity is provided for each member of the learning community to lead his/her peers in exercises of spiritual reflection and to receive feedback in this regard.

5. Didactic Sessions
Theory sessions related to various aspects of providing spiritual care to others will be led by resource persons from within the healthcare setting as well as from the broader community.

6. Individual Supervision
Each individual will meet with the Supervisor of the unit for more personal reflection on the participant’s learning experience

Who may apply for Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE)?

SPE is available to:

• ordained clergy 
• theological students
• persons in a religious vocation
• lay persons committed to personal and professional growth

All programs are interfaith/spiritual and open to those who have a commitment to personal and professional growth. The ability to articulate one’s educational and vocational goals and to effectively use individual and group supervision is also crucial. Applicants are selected via a process that includes letters of reference and an interview.
 

What SPE programs are currently offered within St. Joseph’s Health System?

• May 6, 2013 – August 2, 2013 – An Intensive CPE unit will be offered at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.  Roy Dahl, a Teaching Supervisor with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), will be supervising the unit. Applications will be accepted until March 29, 2013, or until a maximum of six students have been accepted into the program.  A minimum of four students is required for the program to be offered.
• September 2013 – April 2014 – An Extended CPE unit will be offered at St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener.  Mike Chow, a Teaching Supervisor with the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC), will be supervising the unit.  Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2013, or until a maximum of 6 students have been accepted into the program.  A minimum of four students is required for the program to be offered.  
• September 2, 2013 – September 1, 2014 – A twelve-month Residency program is being offered at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.  The Teaching Supervisors are Roy Dahl and Gary Payne for the CPE component of the program, and Tom O’Connor for the PCE component.  Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2013, or until a maximum of 6 residents have been accepted into the program.  If wishing to apply after this date, please call to inquire as to the status of the program.  A minimum of four residents is required for the program to be offered. 
• NOTE:  The Residency is primarily for those interested in pursuing Specialist Certification in the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) or in functioning at an advanced level in spiritual care ministry. One basic unit of CPE, the completion of at least one year of a theological degree program, and the endorsement of a faith group are prerequisites. 

What is the tuition for the various programs offered at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton?

• Intensive Unit – $1300.00
• Extended Units – $1300.00
• Residency – $3000.00.  A stipend of approximately $22,000 is provided.

How do I apply for an SPE Program offered at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton?

An application form may be accessed by clicking on the following link:  
SJHH Supervised Pastoral Education - Application   

Please send the completed application by email to one of the Teaching Supervisors listed below. 
Please note:  a non-refundable $100.00 application fee will be credited toward an applicant’s tuition if accepted into any of the SPE units offered.

Our Hospitals

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is a teaching hospital consisting of four campuses and over 800 beds, affiliated with the faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University and Mohawk College.  It includes the acute care hospital at the Charlton Campus (50 Charlton Ave. E.), the King Campus (2757 King St. E.), the West 5th Campus (100 West 5th St.), and St. Joseph’s Lifecare Centre in Brantford.
St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener is a 191 bed community hospital. It is an adult acute care facility with a specialized focus as a designated Regional Cardiac Centre.

Your interest in our hospitals and the SPE program is appreciated.

For more information please contact:

Roy G. Dahl, M.Div. - Specialist / Teaching Supervisor
Gary Payne, M.Div. – Specialist / Teaching Supervisor
Telephone: 905-522-1155, ext. 35118 (Roy); ext. 32857 (Gary)
rdahl@stjoes.ca / gpayne@stjoes.ca
 

 Pastoral Visitor Training Program

• Over the years the Spiritual Care Department of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton has offered a Pastoral Visitors' Training Program (PVTP). This program is designed to provide training to lay people who are interested in visiting patients/residents in a hospital, nursing home or the sick in their church/parish. It is a twelve-week program that runs for 3 hours on a designated day of the week. For details:
  
  
  • A general description of the program;
  • An application form - to be completed and returned by you
  • A reference form - to be completed and sent directly to us by your faith group leader
  
  The minimum class size is 10, with a maximum class size of 24. Candidates with complete applications will be accepted into the program on a first-come - first-served basis. There is no financial charge for the course, but there is an expectation that our graduates offer at least one year of voluntary service in the Spiritual Care Department after their training is completed. Each graduate will need to determine a suitable voluntary commitment with the director of the department. If you are not interested in the program for a specific year but would like to be kept on our mailing list for future programs, please advise us. For further information, please feel free to contact our secretary at (905) 522-1155, ext. 3263 or the educator at ext. 5118.

• Eucharistic Minister Training Program